Master Horseman Ray Hunt Named to Western States Horse Expo Hall of Fame

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – July 15, 2003 - The Western States Horse Expo named Master Horseman Ray Hunt as the 2003 inductee into their Hall of Fame, at an emotionally charged ceremony attended by more than 3000.

Regarded by many as ‘the original clinician,’ Hunt, now 72, is a master horseman whose name has become synonymous with equestrian education. For more than 40 years, he has taught hundreds of riders in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe, and thousands more through his books on how to interact with their horses, and inspired a generation of clinicians to share their knowledge.

A working cowboy during the 40’s and 50’s, Hunt’s career as a clinician began, perhaps because of a broken leg. In the mid 1960’s, while recovering from a fall taken while starting a colt, Hunt was invited to speak to a 4-H club in Alberta. When informed of his condition, the club said “come anyway, we’ll just listen” and an industry was born.

Today, Hunt starts more than 500 colts a year through his clinics and at his Idaho ranch. On the road 10 months out of the year, the 72 year-old Hunt maintains a demanding schedule of 12-hour days nearly seven days a week, conducting his highly regarded clinics in horsemanship, cattle work and colt starting.

The Western States Horse Expo Hall of Fame Award was established in 2002 to recognize an individual and/or organization that has made a substantial contribution to the Equine Industry in the United States. The inaugural inductee is Frank “Scoop” Vessels, a third generation American Quarter Horse businessman who owns and operates Vessels Stallion Farm, a prominent breeding operation in Southern California. He is also the first vice-president of the American Quarter Horse Association.

The Western States Horse Expo is the largest and most comprehensive equine exposition and trade show in North America. Held annually over three days at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California, the Horse Expo presents more than 400 vendors, world-class clinicians, a premium horse sale, and art show, and the Magnificent 7 Stock Horse Competition. Attendance in 2003 was 62,400. More information available on the web at www.horsexpo.com or by calling 800-352-2411.